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Manhunt ends with capture of New Kensington police murder suspect at Pittsburgh home

Police say Rahmael Holt is charged with fatally shooting New Kensington Police Officer Brian Shaw after running from a car during an attempted traffic stop.

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Updated: 11:11 PM EST Nov 21, 2017

Manhunt ends with capture of New Kensington police murder suspect at Pittsburgh home

Police say Rahmael Holt is charged with fatally shooting New Kensington Police Officer Brian Shaw after running from a car during an attempted traffic stop.

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Updated: 11:11 PM EST Nov 21, 2017

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WEBVTT MARCIE?MARCIE: JANELLE, THE OFFICERSINVOLVED WILL TELL YOU IT TOOKHOURS OF INTERVIEWING PEOPLE WHOTHEY HAD TO TRACK DOWN WHO THEYSENT ME THE SUSPECT, BUT TODAYTHEY SAY THAT PAID OFF.IT WAS 5:00 HERE ON LADORA WAYA.M. WHEN NEIGHBORS TELL USSHERIFFS DEPUTIES AND SWAT TEAMMEMBERS BEGAN SHOUTING FORRAHMAEL HOLT TO COME OUTSIDE ANDFOR EVERYONE ELSE TO STAY INSIDETHEIR HOMES.RESIDENTS IN THE HAZELWOODNEIGHBORHOOD TELL US THEYWATCHED IN FEAR AS HOLT WASTAKEN INTO CUSTODY.THEY SAY THE SUSPECTED KILLERCAME OUTSIDE, LISTENED TOCOMMANDS, AND THEN OFFICERS SAYHE WAS HANDCUFFED WITH NEWKENSINGTON POLICE OFFICER BRIANSHAW'S HANDCUFFS.RESIDENTS TELL US IT HAPPENEDRATHER QUICKLY, BUT IT WASCERTAINLY SCARY.>> THEY WERE TELLING, GET BACKIN YOUR HOUSE, THEY ARE RUNNINGTHROUGH THE BACK DOOR.I WENT UP AND GOT THE GUNS OUT,JUST SITTING HERE IN THE LIVINGROOM JUST IN CASE.MARCIE: RAHMAEL HOLT IS NOW INTHE WESTMORELAND COUNTY JAILWITH NO BOND.HERE IN DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH, IWANT YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT THECITY-COUNTY BUILDING.THIS IS FOUR MILES FROM WHEREHOLT WAS ARRESTED, AND IT IS LITIN BLUE IN MEMORY OF BRIAN SHAW.

Manhunt ends with capture of New Kensington police murder suspect at Pittsburgh home

Police say Rahmael Holt is charged with fatally shooting New Kensington Police Officer Brian Shaw after running from a car during an attempted traffic stop.

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Updated: 11:11 PM EST Nov 21, 2017

PITTSBURGH —

After a four-day manhunt involving several local and federal law enforcement departments, the suspect in the shooting death of New Kensington Police Officer Brian Shaw was taken into custody without incident early Tuesday morning.

A SWAT team moved in on a house on Ladora Way, a short alley in Pittsburgh's Hazelwood section, and ordered 29-year-old Rahmael Holt to come out shortly before 5:30 a.m.

Police have not said who lives in the home where Holt was found. An unidentified man was ordered to come outside with Holt, according to the witness.

"The officers told them to come to the doorway, and one guy came. He came off the porch. (An officer) told him to lift up his shirt and walk down the steps," Jackson said. "He lifted up his shirt, walked down the steps, and he told him, OK, get down the steps, lock your hands behind your head. He did that. They pulled him over to the side of the SWAT truck. The other guy came out, they told him to do the same exact thing. He did it, locked his hands, and they took him too."

"I'm definitely relieved. It could have been way worse. If there was a lot of guns or anything, it could have been a very bad incident. Especially if he would have came out or resisted in any way shape or form, it could have been way worse."

An FBI evidence response team spent hours searching the house after Holt's arrest. It was not clear if they found the gun that was used to kill Shaw.

Holt, of Natrona Heights, was arraigned in front of New Kensington District Judge Frank Pallone and denied bond. He was taken to the Westmoreland County Prison to await a preliminary hearing on charges of murder of a law enforcement officer and firearms violations.

During his arraignment, Holt said he wanted a private attorney. He did not respond to questions from reporters as police officers walked him out of the courtroom.

Rahmael Holt

Online dockets show that felony charges of hindering apprehension have been filed against Holt's mother, Sherry Holt, 47, of East Pittsburgh, and his cousin, Marcel Mason, and Mason's girlfriend, Aysa Benson, both 29 and of Duquesne. Police say all three were in contact with the suspect while he remained at large over the weekend.

Immediately following Shaw's death, investigators were consumed with the task of finding Rahmael Holt. Police Chief Jim Klein said the department will now get back to normal business as it continues to deal with the loss of Shaw, 25, who had been on the force less than a year.

"I want the city of New Kensington residents to know that soon they will be seeing us back on the street," an emotional Klein said at a news conference announcing Holt's arrest. "We will be the ones coming to your door and knocking when you're reporting that barking dog complaint. We will be the ones coming and knocking on your door when you're reporting any type of incident going on in the city. We will be back."

Police said that Shaw attempted a traffic stop on Leishman Avenue at about 8 p.m. Friday, which led to a foot pursuit of Holt, who they said was a passenger in the vehicle. Shots were fired during the foot chase, and Shaw was fatally wounded, police said.

Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck said Holt was fleeing toward a parking lot when he fired about six shots, and Shaw, wearing a bulletproof vest, was shot multiple times. It doesn't appear that Shaw returned fire, Peck said.

The alleged driver, Tavon Harper, 27, left the scene and was later arrested at his home in New Kensington, police said. He faces drug and fleeing charges, but is not charged in connection with Shaw's death.

Police officers salute as the body of New Kensington Officer Brian Shaw is carried from a hearse.

"Thank you to the citizens of New Kensington. Our officers are dedicated to providing the best possible service to protect you and keep you safe," Klein said. "There is no better example than Officer Brian Shaw, who gave his life serving his community. I promise you that our officers will continue to serve with the same honor that Brian did, the same dedication and professional service that you guys expect and you guys will receive."